Global Academia Connects IELTS-style Practice
All speaking topics

Part 2 cue card · Media & technology

Describe a song that has special meaning for you

An old folk song my grandmother sang at bedtime that still takes me home.

Describe a song that has special meaning for you

You should say:

  • what the song is
  • when you first heard it
  • when you listen to it now

and explain why it has special meaning for you.

You have one minute to prepare. Then speak for one to two minutes.

Record yourself on this cardFree account needed for speaking practice.

Tips for this card

  • Describe the mood and story of the song; never recite the lyrics.
  • Connect the song to a person, place or period of your life.
  • Useful words: melody, catchy, soothing, nostalgic, brings back memories.
Show a sample answer (try your own first)

I'd like to talk about an old Bengali folk song that my grandmother used to sing to me when I was small. I don't know who originally wrote it, and I'm not even sure it has an official title, because everyone in our village just calls it by its opening words. It's a gentle song about a boatman crossing a river at sunset and thinking about his home.

I first heard it when I was about five. During the summer holidays, I used to stay at my grandmother's house in a village in Barishal, and at night, when the electricity went off, she would sit on the edge of the bed, fan me with a hand fan and sing this song until I fell asleep. Her voice wasn't perfect, but it was very soft and calm.

For years I didn't hear it at all. Then, about two years ago, after my grandmother had passed away, I suddenly heard a young singer performing a modern version of it on a music channel. The arrangement was different, with a guitar instead of traditional instruments, but I recognised the melody immediately, and I had to stop what I was doing.

Nowadays, I listen to that version quite often, especially when I'm feeling stressed or homesick. It instantly takes me back to those quiet nights in the village.

The song is special to me because it connects me with my grandmother and with my roots. Music has an amazing ability to hold memories, and whenever I hear it, I feel as if she's still close to me. I'd like to learn to sing it properly one day, so that I can pass it on.

Part 3 — discussion questions

  1. Why do certain songs remind people of particular times in their lives?
  2. Is traditional music still popular among young people in your country?
  3. Should music be a compulsory subject in schools?
  4. How has streaming changed the way people listen to music?
  5. Do you think musicians today earn enough from their work?